Senior Reporter
Kabale town is currently facing a water shortage crisis, sparking concerns of a possible disease outbreak among its residents.
This situation arose following the malfunction of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) pump stationed at Lake Bunyonyi.
NWSC, being the primary provider of clean water to Kabale’s population of over 40,000 people, is experiencing difficulties, leading to residents and businesses turning to nearby streams and springs on the town’s outskirts for their water needs. As a result, vendors are selling 20-liter jerrycans of water at prices ranging from Shs 1000 to Shs 1500.
Various community members have voiced their struggles due to the water scarcity. For instance, hotel owner Waswa Bukhari revealed that he incurs a daily expense of Shs 5000 to transport water from a nearby spring, significantly higher than usual. Resident Daisy Twakiire mentioned how she’s been compelled to operate her hotel for only half a day due to the water shortage.
Aggrey Matsiko, a businessman, highlighted the challenges faced by the community, such as the additional costs incurred by using motorcycles to fetch water from distant sources. Matsiko also questioned the effectiveness of municipal and district leaders in overseeing service delivery.
Sam Arineitwe, the Chairman LC3 for Central Division in Kabale Municipality, warned of potential sewage line breakdowns due to the lack of water for sanitation purposes.
On the other hand, Patrick Otim, the Manager of National Water and Sewerage Corporation in Kabale District, attributed the crisis to the breakdown of high-yielding water pump motors at NWSC Bunyonyi intake. He assured that a team is actively working to resolve the issue and expects to restore water supply to clients within the next 24 hours.
